On September 1, 2005, I had a mental flash and Googled “Hurricane Katrina T-shirt.” Surprisingly, there was nothing yet (though there was, of course, within a week… and Katrina- and recovery-related domain names were already being bought up.)

This time around, the culture vultures are much savvier, and speedier.

The Best of New Orleans 2008 results are online now!  What do you think of this year’s winners?

A line was formed this morning before 9:00 am for what is the best sale of the year for New Orleans women.  In celebration of the birthday of the Belladonna’s Day Spa owner, the entire merchandise line of the store goes on sale for the amount of her age.  This year everything is 49% off, with the exception of the makeup, hair and skin care lines that are 20% off.  This event is a true definition of a sale (unlike that barely worth it 10% discount stores try tempt you with).  

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The gravel path leading to the entrance was decorated with candles, and white Christmas lights strung along the wooden stairs lit the main entrance to the evening’s event. Outside, participants and spectators arrived by the dozens, car tires crunching the rocky broken parking lot pavement as they pulled up and stopped alongside the railroad tracks. A few renegade models stood off to the side of the building smoking pre-show cigarettes, half dressed in an array of colorful thrift store plumage — offering a glimpse of what was yet to come.

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Sometimes New Orleans doesn’t feel as southern as other cities, and I am not speaking in respect to the heat but more in regards to our tea isn’t quite as sweet, or “R”’s don’t drawl and I don’t see Vera Bradley bags on every shoulder of every lady. But this Friday’s event at Canal Place always reminds me of our location in the deep south as patrons of the Sippin’ in Seersucker event are dressed to the “T” in their breathable striped attire.

I personally think that men look like handsome gentleman in seersucker suits but a good friend of mine has been known to tell men that she thinks they look like great big giant babies. Regardless of your feeling on the fabric I recommend checking out this event and dressing the part of the southern lady or gentleman. Fashion coordinated parties are always the most fun. Tickets are $35 and entertainment will be provided by Topsy Chapman’s Tribute to Dinah Washington, The Preservation Hall Hot 4 Jazz Band, and The New Orleans BINGO! Show. This event supports the Ogden Museum and light food and summer cocktails will be served.

The cute Chaiken Clothing dress shown is available online on the Saks website. Guys need a suit? Perlis sells them for $250, and it is an investment that will last you for years (my father just replaced his after 25 years, and it was still in adequate shape). And trust me- most women will think you look great, there is just one girl in town that may approach you and tell you that you look like an infant child.

Shop the $1 Sales Rack at Buffalo Exchange this Saturday, April 19th and help the Pinta Tortoise.

Lonesome George is lonely again this Earth Day. Lonesome George is the very last of his kind, the Pinta tortoise. But with your help, the closely related Espanola tortoises will soon restore the ecosystem of George’s home. Bring tortoises back to Pinta Island in the Galapagos Islands as you shop for hip used clothing at a bargain! All proceeds from Buffalo Exchange’s Dollar Day Sale will go to Galapagos Conservancy to fund a project to repopulate Pinta Island with giant saddleback tortoises. All sale items offered for $1 each at your local Buffalo Exchange store on April 19 will support this ground-breaking work  

www.buffaloexchange.com

www.galapagos.org 

New Orleans is getting noticed by the fashionistas of the publishing world this month.  

W Magazine’s photographer Bruce Weber and stylist Karl Temper created a gorgeous 60 page spread headlined “Come on Down Nawlins” on location featuring notable locations like the Soniat House and NOCCA.

Also, in the April issue of Men’s Vogue, Chris Paul is profiled as the “most electric NBA player you haven’t heard of”.

Of course monthly in CUE, you can check out true local New Orleans style and see where to shop to upgrade your spring wardrobe..

by Sam Winston

Another reason to go to Baton Rouge? That’d be the new Apple Store, the first in Louisiana, with its grand opening on Thursday.

It would be way cooler if the store was in New Orleans.

New Orleans girls turned Miami residents, Lynda Martin and Maria Cagol-Landrieu have launched their highly anticipated fashion line Nibbatti, in local stores this month.

Lynda (a former looong time Gambit Weekly Ad Rep) describes the line as a “contemporary, casual clothing line for woman that is inspired by classic silhouettes with a spin on modern edge”. The chic designs stay true to their roots with fun names like, “the new orleans nights”, “the ninth ward ” and the “do me right ” dress and the light weight flowing fabrics obviously state that the designers created them to look hot and stay cool in the Louisiana and Florida humidity.

Another reason to love the line, besides the totally fun designers, is all of the production is taking place in the USA (no child laborer fingers on these garments).

Local New Orleans stores now carrying Nibbatti include Ah Ha, Angelique, Azby’s, Shoefty, Chatta Box and Em’s. The line can also now be found in the Florida panhandle and in five more states next month. Congratulations Lynda and Maria for an amazing premier launch!

Nibbatti is buddhist term for Rebirth.

This week is the catch twenty-two of all shopping weeks in the year. Along Magazine St, in the malls, online there are SALES everywhere…but at the same time most budgets are feeling the crunch (which is why I haven’t posted in Window Shopper recently, I cut myself off from the stores).

All weekend long I spotted 50%- 70% off sales everywhere. Some of my best sightings included Magazine Streets Pippen Lane’s 50% off rack, West Elm’s online sale, Pier Ones 75% off ornaments (if you can think about next Christmas), Gae-tana’s 20-75% off racks and World Markets center aisle. Read the rest of this entry »